Film

Begun in 2014, FILM NOIR is an evolving, multi-part project probing a long-term fascination of La Ribot’s: the figure of the extra, “supernumerary” or background performer.

La Ribot’s pieces 12 toneladas de Plumas, 1991, 40 Espontáneos, 2004, and PARAdistinguidas, 2011, for example, invited extras (local volunteers, normally with little or no theatrical experience) to centre-stage in new, live works for the theatre. In contrast, FILM NOIR looks back into movie history and uses video to explore the dynamics of cinematic extra-hood. First in the series, FILM NOIR 001, 2014, takes a close look at the extras in Spartacus (1960) and El Cid (1961) – human “litmus paper” whose actions and attitudes reveal the two productions’ contrasting ideologies. Presently underway, FILM NOIR 002 and 003 will expand the enquiry to other films and other issues.